Boy found hanging from car window

Granger facility was on probation; staff says safety is priority.

Granger facility was on probation; staff says safety is priority.

April 12, 2006|ALICIA GALLEGOS Tribune Staff Writer

GRANGER -- A day-care center where a 2-year-old boy was seriously injured Tuesday morning after wandering away from a fenced-in playground was already on probation because of a supervision violation last year. Emergency crews were called to Starz Academy, 13377 Indiana 23, close to 10:50 a.m. Tuesday, after day-care staff found the toddler hanging by his neck from a car window and not breathing, police said. The toddler was revived and rushed to the hospital in critical condition, according to Chief John Vance of the Harris Township Fire Department. The child remained in the intensive care unit Tuesday at Memorial Hospital, according to information obtained by WSBT-TV. The injured toddler is the son of a Mishawaka police officer, Mishawaka police confirmed on Tuesday. Starz staff would not comment at the scene. A release sent out later by company spokeswoman Angie Williams said the day care is "devastated by this unfortunate incident." "We value all of our students and do all that is humanly possible to look out for their safety and welfare while at our school," the release read. Many questions lingered for Starz Academy parents after the accident, especially how the boy managed to wander away from a fenced-in play area. "I heard from another parent (about the incident)," said Dana Fuelling, whose two children attend the Granger day care. "It certainly concerns me, and I'll ask questions when I get there." The incident wasn't the first time Fuelling has wanted more information about a safety issue at the day care. Starz parents received letters in February telling them the day care's license was on a probationary status because of a teacher-student ratio problem in November, she said. Fuelling said the note didn't offer much explanation. Family Social Services Administration spokesman Dennis Rosborough confirmed Tuesday the Granger day care's license was placed on probation Jan. 26. He did not have specific details about the incident but said his office has been making random inspections to check the ratio level. Inspections made in March and again Monday both found the teacher-student ratio acceptable. It's unclear if the incident triggering the probation is the same complaint filed by former Starz parent Carrie Kandlstorfer. Around October, Kandlstorfer contacted Child Protection Services after she said her then 2-year-old daughter was beaten up by three boys at the day care, while the teacher's back was turned. "I heard her screaming when I walked in the front door," the mother said. "She was bleeding from the head, had claw marks on her face. I flipped out." Kandlstorfer, who is also a former employee of the center, said she was told only one teacher had been in a room full of 2-year-olds (11 of them) when her daughter was hurt. After the incident, she pulled her daughter out of the day care and contacted Child Protection Services, because she didn't believe Starz was taking any accountability, she said. Starz Academy attorney James Masters said Tuesday his clients are aware of the probationary license status stemming from a ratio complaint, but that the incident is under dispute. He would not comment on any details concerning how Tuesday's accident happened. "It's been fully investigated by our people," he said. "Everybody is very upset by what happened." The 2-year-old was reportedly outside with a group of children when he strayed through a gate into the parking lot, according to police. The toddler then attempted to climb into a car through a window rolled halfway down, becoming stuck between the pane and car door, said police spokeswoman Jaimee Thirion. A bystander began performing mouth-to-mouth resuscitation on the child, Vance said, and Harris Township firefighters arrived within three minutes of the call. The Starz Academy release said the day care is "constantly monitoring our procedures to make sure that we do all that we can to protect the safety of our students." A parents meeting will be held today at the day care to answer any questions or concerns parents have about the incident, Masters said. Tribune staff writers Gwen O'Brien and Pablo Ros contributed to this report.Staff writer Alicia Gallegos: agallegos@sbtinfo.com (574) 235-6368